Splice-bar for rail-joints.



C. G. McCAULLEY! SPLICE BAR FOR RAIL mums.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2.1916.

Patented. Nov. 21, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2- //V 5'(/Lqf/O/V 0.56. McCAULLEY. SP LICE'BAR FOR RAIL JOINTS. APPLICATION FILED AUG- I9I6.

' and I do hereby declare the following to be CHARLES G. MQCAULLEY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT i333 CGLUMBIA.

SPLICE-BAR FOE RAIL-JGINTS.

mosses.

ummpamm Specification of Letters .Patent.

Patented aw. ea, isle;

Application filed August 2, 1918. Serial No. 112,749.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that 1, C nemas G. McQApL- LEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Spllce-Barsfor Rail-Joints;

it relates to new and improved means for suitably insulating such joints, and to means i for interruptingthe electrical continuity of track rails used in connection with railway signaling apparatus, and track circuit operations generally.

The invention has for an object the formation of insulated joints-for railway rails which are peculiarly eflicient, du able and reliable in the performance of their intended functions both mechanical and electrical.

A further object of the invention is that of obtaining thorough and complete insulation with a minimum quantity of insulating material so positioned and arranged that it is practically weatherproof and wearproof.

A further object of the present invention is that of positively preventing the insulating material from slipping or creeping from its selected points of service.

A further object of the invention is the production of splice bars which are applicable'to rails of various cross sectional areas and weight. g

Ll further object of this invention is the production of insulated splice bars which present metallic contact surfaces for direct engagement with the rails which'they support. A further object of the invention is the production of splice bars which may be readily insulated at either or both ends ac cording to requirements, or instantly con verted from one of said forms to another by unskilled persons. p

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view, both structural and op erative, the invention will be hereinafter particularly described, and then pointed out by the claims following. I

In the accompanying drawings which form part of this application. for Letters Patent, and whereon like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the sev eral views; Figure 1 isa side elevation of my lIlVBIllZlOIl'SQCHIfid in operative position between the head and foot of adjacent rail sections. Fig. 2 is a relatively enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 2.2 of 1; Fig. 3 is fragmentary view 1 showing in plan one end of one splice bar." Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of one end of one splice bar. igs. 5 and 6 are modified forms of the present invention shown in side elevation operatively applied to adjacent ends of track rails. Fig. 'i is a relatively enlarged transverse sectional view of the invention taken on the line 7 '7 of Fig. 6, and, Fig. 8 is also a transverse sectional view showing another modification of inserted rail contacting and supporting members.

Reference being had to drawings and numerals thereon, and for present purposes particular reference being had to Sheet 1, the numerals 10 and 10 indicate adjacent ends of ordinary railway rails spaced apart by a block of suitable fiber or other insulating material such as 11, for the purpose of interrupting the electrical continuity of said rails at certain predetermined track intervals. Upon opposite sides of the rails 10,10 are splice bars 12 and 13 which embody my present invention, and collectively constitute a rail joint. These bars are by preference bf substantially rectangular form, and like ordinary splice bars are rolled to the desired cross sectional shape, that shown by the drawings being suitable, wherein the said bars are somewhat thickened as compared with the more ordinary bars the inner bar 13 being reduced slightly as 14 upon its upper edge to provide clearance for wheel flange It should be understood, however, that the particular form or shape of splice bars 12 and 13 constitutes no partof the present invention, and this may healtered indefinitely to meet varying conditions and requirements.

into the upper surface or edge of both bars 12 and'l8, at predetermined intervals,

of wheel intereference.

with relation to the longitudinal axis of the bars as indicated by Fig. i.

In the preferred formof construction as shown by Figs. 1 to 1, inclusive, the said pockets 15 and 16 may be quickly and accurately formed by agency of a gang drill,

and in any event they are each provided with a tubular lining 17 of insulating material such as fiber, and within the latter, at the extreme bottom of said pockets, are located individual disks of like insulating material 18 formed under great pressure. Within the linings 17 18 aforesaid there is driven or otherwise firmly fitted individual rail contacting and supporting members 19,

preferably of hardened steel, which project slightly beyond the upper and lower edges of their respective bars 12 and 13, for the purpose of directly engaging rails 10 and offsetting the same from said splice bars, asbest shown by Fig. 2. These supporting members 19 are formed or shaped to fit the surface beneath the head of rails 10, and above the foot of said rails, the outer corners of the uppermost of said members 19 being bypreference knocked off as shown by the drawings, to obviate the possibility This shaping of the members 19 is not an essential feature of the-present invention, but may be eifected, when desired, in various ways, among which would be that of securing them immovably in position within bars 12 and 13 and then shaping or planing them collectively. Or they may be similarly shaped while clamped in a suitable jig, removed, hardened, and

then finally seated in their respective splice bars.

The splice bars with the usual bolt 12 and 13 are provided holes and through bolts '20, tubular insulating sleeves-21 surroundmg said bolts, washers 22, nut 23, and fibrous insulating washers 24, 24c, in the well understood relation, best indicated by Fig. 2; and it will be readily understood that said plates may be firmly and securely drawn together and held in position, while serving as a rail joint, by agency of the several bolts and nuts aforesaid. Moreover,

it will be observed that nuts 23 and the angular arrangement of the rail supporting members 19, renders a degree of adjustability possible, in the event that long and continued service results in a still further compression of the pocketed insulating disks 18. Should this occur the condition may be immediately remedied by simply drawing the splice bars 12' and 13 more closely together.

The foregoing being a description of my invention in its preferred form of construction it should be understood that I consider myself by no means restricted to the same, nor to the precise arrangement and combination of parts hereinbefore set forth.

On the contrary, the structure may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit of my invention or the principles involved, as exemplified by several such modifications shown by Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, of the drawings.

Referring particularly to Sheet 2 of the drawings it will be observed that in Fig. 5 there is substituted for the cylindrical su porting members 19 a plurality of rectangular members 19* for like purposes, while Figs. (3 and 7 show rectangular supports 19" each traversing substantially one-half the length of their respective splice bars both above and below. Fig. 8 illustrates also a modified form of supporting members 19, being of tapering or conical form, the better to receive the impact or thrust of traffic, and to be automatically tightened in their seats with use. Likewise, other modifications will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art to which the present invention relates, and to all such I lay claim the same as if herein set forth, provided they include a structure wherein a rail is supported by contacting members, themselves carried by splice bars, in combination with suitable insulating material interposed between said members and bars, substantially as shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I new claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is j y 1. In a splice bar for rail joints the combination with a rail support projecting from said bar, of suitable insulating material interposed between said support and the body of said bar,

2. In a splice bar for rail joints the combination with a plurality of spaced metallic railsupporting members recessed into and projecting from one edge of said bar, of suitable insulating material interposed between said supporting members and the body of said bar.

3. In a splice bar for rail joints the combination with rail supports recessed into said bar, of suitable insulating material interposed between said supports and the body of said bar.

4. In a splice bar for rail joints the combination with rail supporting and offsetting members projecting from said bar, of suitable insulating material interposed between said supporting members and the body of said bar.

5. In a splice bar for rail joints the combination with rail supporting and olfsetting members partially embedded in said bar, of suitable insulating material interposed between said supporting members and the body of said bar. I

6. In a splice bar for rail joints the combination with a plurality of spaced rail supporting members projecting from said bar,

v said bar. o

9. In a splice bar for rail oints the comof suitable insulating material interposed between said supporting members and the body of said bar.

7. In a splicebar for rail joints the com bination with a plurality of inset rail supports projecting from said bar, of means for insulating said supports from the body of said bar.

8. In a splice bar for rail'joints the combination with a plurality of rail engaging supports inset in said bar, of means for in-' sulatingsaid supports from the body of bination with a plurality of individual rail engaging supports embedded in suitable inof said pockets, and individual rail engaging supports fitted within said linings.

11. A splice bar for rail joints provided with a plurality of pockets staggered with relation to its longitudinal axis, in combination wit-h a lining of insulating material for each of said pockets, and individual rail engaging supports fitted Within said linings.

12. A splice bar for rail joints having in combination individual rail supporting and offsetting members projecting from both ed es thereof, and suitable insulating materia interposed between each of the'said sup- &

porting members and the body of said bar. 7

13. A splice bar for rail joints provided with inset rail engaging supports entering the upper and lower edges thereof at an angle to the vertical plane of said bar and converging outwardly from the inner face thereof, in combination with suitable insulating material interposedbetween said rail supports and the body of said bar.

14 An insulated rail joint for railway rails comprising in combination oppositely disposed splice bars, through bolts for drawing said bars together, means for insulating said bolts and bars from each other, a plurality of individual rail supporting and offsetting members projecting from said splice bars, and suitable insulating material interposed between said supporting members and their respective splice bars.

15. In a splice bar for rail joints the combination with a plurality of spaced metallic rail supporting members recessed into and projecting from the top and bottom edges 1 of said bar, of means for insulating said members from the body of said bar, and

' means for insulating said bar at all other.

points from rails which it may serve to splice.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES G. MCCAULLEY. Witnesses:

THOMAS DURANT, WM. E. Damn. 

